By Mustakim Ramli
SHAH ALAM, June 2 — Selangor is prepared to develop grain corn production for its use in animal feed to reduce dependency on livestock feed imports.
State executive councillor for agriculture and agro-based industry Izham Hashim said several measures have been taken, including a joint venture with other state governments to develop lands to be cultivated with grain corn.
“We are collaborating with Negeri Sembilan, where we have a total of 700 acres of land — 400 acres in Negeri Sembilan and 300 acres in Selangor. But even if we have 10,000 acres of land for farming, it would still not be enough.
“We will look into cooperating with other states and help grow grain corn. Those who would like to collaborate with us do not have to worry as there is no shortage of chicken,” he said when met after the launch of several new crop seeds in Selangor Fruit Valley (SFV), which was graced by Tengku Permaisuri of Selangor Tengku Permaisuri Norashikin, today.
The seeds include two types of melon (crunchy and sweet), two types of corn (grain and sweet) and papaya, and grain corn for animal feed.
On May 18, the Selangor government, through the Selangor Agricultural Development Corporation (PKPS), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Menteri Besar Negeri Sembilan (Incorporated) or MBINS on a grain corn planting project.
Selangor Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari said the project in Kuala Langat Selatan, Kuala Langat near hear and in Gemas, Negeri Sembilan, has the potential to reduce livestock feed imports by between two and three per cent.
The project, which costs RM3 million, will begin after clean-up work is completed in the third quarter of this year.
